Weekly Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6TGGk0QHVqkozqH8DTtF32?si=398a358f39b64f6d 

Daija’s picks

1. Lizzy McAlpine – “ceilings”
2. Taylor Swift – “marjorie”
3. Holly Humberstone – “Deep End”

“ceilings” by Lizzy McAlpine was released on her 2022 album “five seconds flat” which comes two years after her debut album “Give Me A Minute” which features hits such as “Pancakes for Dinner.” In this single, McAlpine details missing someone so much to the point where she stares at the ceiling thinking of them. Toward the end of the song, McAlpine sings “but it’s not real / and you don’t exist / and I can’t recall the last time I was kissed,” showing that she is no longer missing the person, but just the relationship itself and all the good moments that came with it. 

Taylor Swift details her relationship with her late grandmother in “marjorie,” a song released on the 2020 album “evermore”. In “marjorie,” it’s clear that Swift was close with her grandmother and wishes she cherished their time together more when she was younger. The emotional and sad lyrics are accompanied by a soft piano ballad and a soft string instrument playing in the background. This song is for those who have lost someone in their lives and wish they could have a little more time with them.

“Deep End” is a debut single by Holly Humberstone and was released in 2020. The single, in simple terms, is a pleading love letter to Humberstone’s younger sister who is dealing with mental health issues. Humberstone sings, “I’ll be your medicine if you let me / give you reason to get out of bed,” as a way of showing that she’s there to help and doesn’t want to see her sister hurting. Not only are the lyrics heartbreaking, but the unsteady electric guitar matches the delicate state Humberstone describes her sister to be in.

Sarah’s picks

1. Childish Gambino – “Me and Your Mama”
2. MGMT – “Little Dark Age”
3. Lana Del Rey – “Diet Mountain Dew”

Childish Gambino, also known as Donald Glover, released “Me and Your Mama” in 2016 as part of his “Awaken, My Love!” album. Glover is an acclaimed actor, starring in the movie “The Martian” and “Atlanta,” a TV show he created and directs. “Me and Your Mama” starts off melodic and instrumental, and it’s not until the two-minute mark where the beat drops and Gambino showcases his vocals. According to Immortal Reviews, an interpretation of “Me and Your Mama” is about how love can be difficult, especially when you have people expecting a relationship to go south. Gambino writes about wanting to be loved and let in by a woman he’s fallen in love with.

MGMT released “Little Dark Age” as part of their fourth album “Little Dark Age” in 2018. “Little Dark Age” is about someone who is trapped in their mind, slowly falling into a depression. The lyrics, “The feelings start to rot / one wink at a time / Just know that if you start / it doesn’t go away,” tell the story of someone distancing themselves, trying to make what they feel disappear. “Little Dark Age” references a dark time in someone’s life, leaving listeners with layered lyrics and an open-ended interpretation of the song.

“Diet Mountain Dew” was written by singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey in 2008 alongside Mike Daly, a songwriter and producer. “Diet Mountain Dew” is a lyrically upbeat song that tells the story of a toxic relationship. Del Rey compares a Diet Mountain Dew drink to her toxic relationship saying that it feels sweet yet it’s bad for her. The lyrics, “Do you think we’ll be in love forever / Do you think we’ll be in love,” is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing her uncertainty about the relationship she is in. 

Caleb’s picks 

1. Lil Nas X – “STAR WALKIN’ (League of Legends Worlds Anthem)”      
2. Steven Universe, Estelle – “Stronger Than You (feat. Estelle)”    
3. Gloria Gaynor – “I Will Survive” 

“STAR WALKIN’” was released last month as the championship anthem for the 2022 League of Legends World Championship. This song is pumping, and its lyrics really make you feel like you’re “headed to the stars/ ready to go far/ I’m Star walkin’.” This anthem really sets the mood for a good League of Legends match and gets people excited. 

The song was performed in 2017 by Estelle for the “Steven Universe” show’s Season 1 soundtrack. “Stronger Than You” is a powerful piece that was initially played in the Season 1 finale “Jailbreak” and was written by Rebecca Sugar, the show’s creator. The song symbolizes the power of love and how being together with the one you love will make you strong enough to overcome adversity. 

This classic song was originally released in 1978 as a part of Gloria Gaynor’s sixth album “Love Tracks.” “I Will Survive” is a powerful anthem and one of the most iconic songs of our time. In this song, Gaynor sings about being strong enough to survive on your own and not letting heartbreak end you. It’s about not letting those who hurt you destroy you and being able to stand on your own. 

Nick’s picks

1. Dominic Sen – “Atalanta”
2. American Sigh – “Almond Eyes”
3. Pink Floyd – “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1-5)” 

Alexandra Lily Cohen is a New York-based artist and musician who performs under the persona Dominic Sen, their personal is a blend of science-fiction and indie musician. On her debut album, “Visitor,” Sen pens the story of Tal, a fictional character she embodies on this album. In the song, she furthers her storytelling by comparing Atalanta, the Greek princess of Arcadia, to Tal. “Atalanta,” is an upbeat pop song full of quirky but balanced aural tidbits – my favorite is the shaker that comes in during the chorus. The fun and easy backing mixes work well with Sen’s soft and sweet voice. “Atalanta” is a master class of fun pop storytelling packed into an album overflowing with character and narrative bliss. 

American Sigh is an indie-rock group out of West Palm Beach, Florida. Their 2021 album “Honor System” is somehow almost entirely unrecognized. Of this album, I think the best song is the second single, “Almond Eyes.” The band consists of the frontman and guitarist Theo Matz’s brainchild. Matz uses the band’s interesting mix of midwest-emo and math rock-inspired guitar runs, basic but interesting bass and drums, and his own floating vocals to create an entirely singular mixture. Though the guitar lines are super interesting and entertaining, Matz’s vocals are easily the best part of the picture. His rock-inspired mid-range flows into a gorgeous, Bon Iver-esque falsetto that kills any false ideas about falsettos needing to be soft. When it comes to the lyrics, Matz writes of youthful exuberance and dumb love; listeners can almost see the almond eyes he loves. 

“Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1-5)” is the opening track to Pink Floyd’s 1975 record “Wish You Were Here.” This album grapples with the departure of the band’s former lead guitarist and songwriter, Syd Barrett, after a collapse in his mental health. The song is an epic all on its own, taking up over 13 and a half minutes. It features a mass of solos, three by new guitarist and Barrett’s childhood friend, David Gilmour, and two saxophone solos played by the great Dick Parry, each lifting the song up to its mighty end. As the song ends, all instruments fall out and all that is left is an ambient, machine-like humming. The song documents and mourns Barrett’s fall into his own brain after rising to stardom. As if the 13-and-a-half-minute runtime was not enough on its own, the album ends on parts 6-9 of the song, another 12 minutes. None of this is to say that the songs are too long – anything but that – but remember to have patience and let the song shine over you.